Latest news with #Moloney
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Unretired Aussie wants world title by NYE
Unretired Australian boxer Andrew Moloney is promising a world title by year's end as he prepares for a Mexican debut against Argi Cortes. The veterans will wage an IBF super flyweight eliminator war in Durango on August 9, three weeks later than it was initially scheduled for in Monterrey. Moloney (27-4) furiously declared he was quitting the sport after losing a controversial points decision to Pedro Guevara, for the interim WBC super flyweight title, in Perth last May. But the former secondary WBA belt holder, 34 and 11 years on from his professional debut, had a change of heart and is now two wins away from his biggest boxing moment. "This is a must-win," he told AAP after landing in Mexico. Moloney is 6-2 since losing his controversial Joshua Franco trilogy that began in the MGM Grand's Las Vegas bubble due to COVID-19 in 2020. "It's been years of hard work to get back to this position and I won't let this opportunity slip," he said. "I will be world champion again before the end of 2025. "I'm extremely excited about this fight. "I'm on fire in the gym at the moment and preparation has been perfect. "Cortes is a good, well-rounded fighter. "He can box and can brawl when he needs to, but I believe his style suits me perfectly and believe I am better than him in every department." Cortes (27-4-2) has only once fought outside of Mexico, taking Junto Nakatani the distance for the first time in a 2023 title bout months after the Japanese star had delivered Moloney a brutal final-round knockout. The victor next month will be next in line to face fellow Mexican Willibaldo Garcia, who edged countryman Rene Calixto to claim the vacant IBF crown in May. "He puts a lot of pressure on his opponents but he definitely has holes in his game," Moloney said of the IBF champion. "That is a fight I'm very confident of winning but I can't look past Cortes yet. "I enjoy going to enemy territory and fighting in my opponents' backyard. "I have never been to Mexico and all of my favourite fighters are Mexican so I'm looking forward to the experience."
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Talented Cork author releases debut novel – a dark and gritty detective series set in the Rebel county
The 35-year-old former primary school teacher turned writer, who hails from West Cork, is celebrating ticking off a major life goal this week. After years of work, his debut novel LAWLESS has officially made its way out into the world, with the first copies arriving into readers' hands last Friday. The release marks an exciting moment for Irish crime fiction fans. For those who haven't come across it on their online travels yet, LAWLESS is described as 'the first in a gripping crime series set on the rain-soaked streets of Cork City,' as well as 'tense, atmospheric and deeply human.' With that setup, readers can expect a haunting and compelling read. The story follows Detective Adrian Lawless, who is assigned to investigate the savage murder of a young man in a quiet Cork suburb. The victim's ex-girlfriend has also gone missing, adding another layer of mystery. From the outset, something about the case feels off. To Lawless – no stranger to messy, emotionally complex investigations – this crime scene is unsettlingly clean. The girl has vanished without a trace, and buried deep in the silence is the unmistakable presence of someone else. Someone watching. Waiting. Hunting. As the case unfolds, Lawless finds himself pulled deeper into a search that quickly becomes more than just a job. He's drawn into a situation that threatens to consume him entirely – one that forces him to confront the darkest corners of his own past. This isn't just a killer. It's something far more far more personal. While the plot promises intensity and high stakes, it's the setting that truly distinguishes LAWLESS. Speaking to The Irish Independent on Monday, Moloney explained why Cork was the perfect place for this story. 'It [LAWLESS] was one of those ideas that grew and morphed over time without a single word ever being put to paper,' he said. 'Initially, the idea stemmed purely from my own bemusement that there hadn't been a detective series based in Ireland where the tone was purposefully dark, and that explored what a serial killer might look like after being shaped by the Irish landscape.' For Moloney, setting the novel outside the usual crime fiction hotspots was a conscious decision. 'I wanted it to give people something that I felt was missing,' he continued. 'I wanted to write a crime thriller that wasn't based in Dublin. I wanted to write a crime thriller that wasn't centred around narcotics or the idea of 'gangland crime.' And I wanted to write a story that really gave a true reflection of what it's like to live and exist in rural Ireland.' This vision didn't come to life overnight. In fact, it spent years simmering in the background while Moloney pursued other writing projects. 'The fact that it remained an idea in the back of my head for so long, however, wound up being a blessing in disguise, I feel,' he explained. 'Because in doing the other work that came before LAWLESS – namely, a golf fiction series called Mustang – I feel it prepared me to write LAWLESS from a technical standpoint that helped deliver the story in the manner it so demanded.' Switching genres turned out to be exactly what Moloney needed creatively. 'Even the timing of writing LAWLESS was perfect,' he said. 'After spending a year or two straight writing Mustang week-to-week, to make such a drastic change of direction in terms of tone and writing style came as a much-needed palate cleanser that served as a welcome boost of inspiration.' That shift in energy proved helpful more than once. 'And the same thing happened after I paused writing LAWLESS halfway through it in order to bring Leo & The Broken Throne—a fantasy book—to fruition,' he added. 'Meaning, every time that I sat down to write LAWLESS, I was always doing so from a refreshed and reinvigorated state of mind that, I hope, comes across in the book.' After all the years of conceptualizing, writing, and revising, seeing the book finally on shelves is an emotional moment for Moloney. 'Bearing that in mind, though, to now see it actually out there in the world and available for people to read is, understandably, quite surreal,' he said. 'To see something that started as a rough idea over five years ago, and then came to exist over two six-month periods of intense writing, and then months of editing after that? It really is tough to wrap your head around in the most wonderful way imaginable.' The response from readers has made the journey all the more rewarding. 'But to see the incredible support that the book has been getting and that people are enjoying it? Well, that's what it's all about, right?'
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Sky TV-TV3 deal: Why Sky TV bought Three – and what's next
TVNZ, which had no comment on today's developments, is preparing an upgrade that will give its streaming platform wider capabilities, including paid content. In more traditional or 'linear' TV terms, pundits see Three's greater audience reach than Sky's free-to-air channel, Sky Open, as a key element in securing the next round of rugby rights, expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. An insider said that despite proliferating digital options, many viewers remain fixated on the first three buttons on their remote. 'The rugby discussions continue to be really constructive,' Moloney said. 'I don't think that this changes the nature of those discussions, but we're really excited about the diversity of reach that we'll get through Three and ThreeNow.' 'No layoffs at this stage', Stuff not stuffed The transaction will close on August 1, but Moloney told the Herald the merger of the two broadcasters' operations would take 12 to 18 months. 'Detailed planning starts from now,' she said. Over the next few months, Moloney said viewers will see 'no change to Sky Open or Three channels and content'. Sky is committed to Three being part of Freeview, she said. The Stuff-produced 6pm news bulletin, ThreeNews, will remain. There were no plans to extend news to Sky Open (formerly Prime), which has had no local bulletin since its 5.30pm news, produced by Three, was dropped last year at the same time Warner Bros Discovery outsourced its news to Stuff. 'There is no discussion about any layoffs or anything at this stage,' Warner Bros Discovery Australia-New Zealand managing director Michael Brooks said. New digs, old digs In a few days' time, some 130 Discovery NZ staff will still move from Three's long-time home at Flower St, Eden Terrace to a building in Freeman's Bay, where Warner Bros International Television Production New Zealand also has an office. But Brooks now frames the shift as transitional. The plan is for them to move in with Sky, which maintains a corporate office in the CBD and its main operations in light-industrial Mt Wellington, 'in a few months' time, once details are worked out'. There aren't any immediate plans to merge any Sky or Three online services. There will be no change to the location of any Warner Bros Discovery content, Brooks said. Dividend hook remains in place A key lure for investors in recent times – Sky's 2023 promise to double its dividend to 30c per share by 2026 – remains firmly in place, Moloney said. Sky says the transaction will add to free cashflow immediately and add 'at least $10m' to operating earnings by 2028. How did the deal get watchdog's green light? The deal got a regulatory green light, or at least an assurance of no investigation, after it was confidentially shared with the market regulator before the announcement. 'The Commerce Commission was made aware of this merger from the parties involved and doesn't currently intend to consider it further,' Commerce Commission general manager, competition Vanessa Horne told the Herald. Sky TV chief executive Sophie Moloney (right) and Warner Bros Discovery Australia and New Zealand managing director Michael Brooks. Photo / Cameron Pitney How did the deal get the okay from the same regulator that raked the proposed Sky-Vodafone NZ and NZME-Stuff mergers over the coals, ultimately incinerating both? The Herald understands that Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) told the regulator that it would fold its tent in New Zealand if the Sky deal was not approved – lessening competition. But Brooks said that was 'not at all' the case. Sky and WBD had begun talks late last year then 'leaned into' the process after they realised it was mutually advantageous. The Commerce Commission had no comment specific to the Sky-WBD deal. The spokeswoman said every merger was assessed on the basis of whether there would be substantial lessening of competition. Brooks said the deal was not tied to Warner Bros and Discovery's decision to unwind their 3-year-old mega-merger. Sky-WBD New Zealand talks had pre-dated the announcement of that conscious uncoupling by months. What's different from 2022? Sky circled Three in 2022, when it was part of MediaWorks, only to end talks after large shareholders raised concerns over its financial sense. What's different today? 'It's a totally different context,' Moloney said. 'These [Three and ThreeNow] are complementary assets. There's no stretch in terms of out-of-home [outdoor advertising] or radio'. The state of Warner Bros Discovery's New Zealand finances was laid bare last July – a massive $138 million loss in 2023, including a $79.5m impairment. Its 2024 financials are due to be released in the coming weeks. The New Zealand media landscape has been extremely dynamic in recent months, highlighted by the board changes at NZME and Trade Me buying 50% of Stuff Digital. Across the Tasman, global streaming giant DAZN is buying Foxtel in an A$3.4 billion ($3.7b)) deal. Paul Goldsmith, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, said he saw the deal as encouraging and an investment in New Zealand media. 'Not the fact that it's one dollar, but the fact we're having an investment in TV Three, and we have a good, sound Sky. I think it's quite exciting. It will make Three stronger and more sustainable.' The deal in a nutshell In a statement to the NZX, Sky said the deal to buy 100% of shares in Discovery NZ for $1 was expected to be: Debt-free with 'a clean balance sheet largely clear of long-term obligations, including property leases' Deliver Sky revenue $95m extra annual revenue, with about 25% from digital sources Add to Sky's existing audience a growing digital audience via ThreeNow, a BVOD (broadcaster video on demand) platform that recently recorded its 12th straight quarter of viewership growth Grow Sky's combined total linear television advertising revenue share to about 35% and total digital television advertising revenue share to about 24% Deliver material cost synergies primarily across Sky's content and broadcasting infrastructure Deliver a pathway to achieve incremental, underlying free cash flow from FY26 and sustainable ebitda (interest before tax, depreciation and amortisation) growth of at least $10m from FY28. Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald's business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.
1News
a day ago
- Business
- 1News
Sky TV agrees to buy Three for $1
Sky TV has agreed to buy Discovery NZ, which owns Three, for $1, the company announced this morning. The move was announced to the NZX, and would see US television giant Warner Bros Discovery leave New Zealand's free-to-air television market. Under the deal, Sky would take control of all TV3 brands, including Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush, HGTV, and the network's streaming platform, ThreeNow. The sale was made on a cash-free, debt-free basis and was expected to be completed on August 1. The deal also included a multi-year commercial agreement for the continued supply of Warner Bros Discovery's premium content to Sky. Warner Bros Discovery would retain ownership of its remaining assets in the New Zealand market, which included its pay TV channels, streaming service HBO Max, and Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP) New Zealand. ADVERTISEMENT Sky had "no immediate plans" to change the content lineup on any of the Discovery NZ platforms related to the acquisition. 'This is an exciting, future-focused step for Sky and a win for our growth and ambition to be Aotearoa New Zealand's most engaging and essential media company," Sky chief executive Sophie Moloney said about the acquisition. "It positions us to scale faster, puts real momentum into our strategy, and grows and further diversifies our revenue streams, particularly in advertising and digital." Sky expected the sale to: Deliver Sky revenue diversification and uplift of c.$95m on an annualised basis, with 25%from digital sources Add to Sky's existing audience a growing digital audience via ThreeNow Grow Sky's combined total linear television advertising revenue share to 35% and total digital television advertising revenue share to 24% Deliver material cost synergies primarily across Sky's content and broadcasting infrastructure Deliver a pathway to achieve incremental, underlying free cash flow from FY26 and sustainable EBITDA growth of at least $10m from FY28. Moloney said Sky was "uniquely placed" to "take the business forward and give effect to the opportunity to accelerate our growth strategy". "We see strong value in ThreeNow's high-quality broadcast video on demand platform, and Three's mass reach, and we are looking forward to creating opportunities to do more with our content, for more New Zealanders, in more ways that work for them across a comprehensive portfolio of subscription and free-to-access platforms.' ADVERTISEMENT Summary: The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including death of a The Cosby Show actor, vape product recalled, and how working less makes us feel better. (Source: Breakfast) Michael Brooks, managing director Australia and New Zealand for Warner Bros Discovery, said the move was a "fantastic outcome" for both companies. "The continued challenges faced by the New Zealand media industry are well documented, and over the past 12 months, the Discovery NZ team has worked to deliver a new, more sustainable business model following a significant restructure in 2024," he said. "While this business is not commercially viable as a standalone asset in the WBD New Zealand portfolio, we see the value Three and ThreeNow can bring to Sky's existing offering of complementary assets."
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Media Insider: Sky TV buys Three for $1 in massive media shake-up
• Deliver Sky revenue diversification and uplift of c.$95m on an annualised basis, with ~25%from digital sources • Add to Sky's existing audience a growing digital audience via ThreeNow, a BVOD platform that recently recorded its 12th straight quarter of viewership growth • Grow Sky's combined total linear television advertising revenue share to ~35%1 and total digital television advertising revenue share to ~24%2 • Deliver material cost synergies primarily across Sky's content and broadcasting infrastructure • Deliver a pathway to achieve incremental, underlying free cash flow from FY26 and sustainable EBITDA growth of at least $10m from FY28. In a statement, Moloney said: 'This is a compelling opportunity for Sky that directly supports our ambition to be Aotearoa New Zealand's most engaging and essential media company. It positions us to scale faster, accelerates our growth, and further diversifies our revenue streams, particularly in advertising and digital. We are acquiring a business with complementary operations that is a strong strategic fit for Sky, in an accretive way for our shareholders.' 'In particular, acquiring the established and fast-growing ThreeNow BVOD platform adds an important missing component to Sky's portfolio, without incurring the significant brand and platform development costs and inherent revenue risks associated with building a BVOD service ourselves. The combined portfolio will give Sky significantly increased scale, diversity and mass reach that will unlock more opportunities in advertising and maximise the return on our investments in content through a strengthened, multi-platform approach.' Moloney said: 'Notwithstanding the ongoing challenges faced by the Discovery NZ business' Sky was uniquely placed 'to give effect to this opportunity to accelerate our growth strategy.' Sky TV chief executive Sophie Maloney. Photo / Alex Burton The state of Warner Bros Discovery's New Zealand finances was laid bare last July – a massive $138 million loss in 2023, including a $79.5m impairment. Its finances for 2024 are expected to be released new deal means Sky suddenly has a massive new free-to-air platform, for which it can compete directly with the likes of TVNZ for sales and audience. It also gives them massive leverage for a free-to-air platform in sports rights negotiations. Sky is on the cusp of signing a new rugby deal with NZR - until now, it had been reported that TVNZ might be the free to air partner for the likes of NPC games, but that now seems uncertain. Instead, the free-to-air component of the deal might be provided by Three. MORE SOON Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand's most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME. Watch Media Insider - The Podcast on YouTube, or listen to it on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
